Fire-escape.



' NIL-629,548.. 'Patented July 25, I899.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT FIcE.

JOHN I. ORANFORD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK K.

BOWVERS, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,548, dated July 25, 1899.

Application filed May 23, 1899- Serial No. 717,968. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN I. CRANFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fire-escapes, and especially to a device whereby a person may easily and quickly adjust a slip band or loop about his or her body and by means of a rope which is anchored at its upper end make the descent on the rope at a rate of speed regulated by means in the control of the person descending.

More specifically the present invention resides in the provision of a fire-escape in which an apertured block is provided,through which the rope anchored at its upper end is passed and to which block is pivoted a clevis which carries the body-engaging strap or belt, means being provided whereby said clevis will be prevented -from bearing frictionally against the rope down which the block works.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fire.- escape shown in position for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the device; and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal View though the block, showing the integral lugs for preventing the clevis from binding against the rope as a person makes a descent.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the rope, which may be anchored in any suitable manner to the story of the house from which the descent is to be made. The belt or body-engaging strap B, made of webbing or any other suitable material, has a slip-loop 0 formed at one end, while its other end is securely fastened to the clevis D. This clevis is pivoted on a pin E, which is carried by the block F, the rounded ends of said clevis are adapted to turn in recessed portions of the block and against the shouldered portion F of the block. Said block is apertured, as at H H, in inclined positions, as shown, and one face of the block is curved, while the opposite face has the integral projections K adjacent to the inner 1n argins of said apertures and reinforced by the ribs N between said projections and the portion F. These integral projections are provided for the purpose of preventing the clevis'engaging against the rope which passes through said apertures. Secured to said belt at any suitable location, as near to the clevis, is a pocket or loop L, in which the hand of the operator may catch and grip the rope, with the fold of the loop L between the hand and the rope, in order to regulate the speed at which it is desired to make the descent.

In operation the belt or band is caught over the body of the operator, who should grip the loop after gathering a fold of the latter about the rope, which rope has been securely anchored to some fixed point near the window of the story from which the descent is to be made. Then the operator may lower himself or herself at any speed desired. After the ground has been reached, if desired, the rope may be reversed, the lower end anchored at the story from which the descent is to be made, and the device is at once ready for use again, as the clevis will swing on its pivot, the block merely being reversed.

What I claim is A fire-escape consisting of a rope designed to be anchored to a building, combined with a block having apertures through which said rope passes, a clevis having rounded ends pivoted on a pin Carried by the block, and In testimony whereof I ztflix my signature turning in recesses in the latter, the lugs on the block adjacent to the apertures therein, which are adapted to limit the inward throw of said elevis, the body-engaging band secured t0 the elevis, and the loop fastened to said band, as shown and described.

in presence of two witnesses.

- JOHN I; CRANFORD.

Witnesses:

JOHN PREUGER, PETER LOHMANN. 

